G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 21.3 vs 0 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 12 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
❌191.7% higher power demand at 350W vs 120W.

GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile

2023

Why buy it

✅18.9% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 12 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 4nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
✅Draws 120W instead of 350W, a 230W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 21.3 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 18.9% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 1.8% in PassMark G3D (27,048 vs 26,569), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 16 GB vs 12 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 4nm process instead of 8nm, and 76 vs 70 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and strong 1440p, GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and strong 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1260 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 70 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,569 points. Launch price was $799.

GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile

The GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 3 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1335 MHz to 1695 MHz. It has 9728 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 120W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 76 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 27,048 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB scores 26,569 and the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile reaches 27,048 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 9,728 (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile). Raw compute: 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 32.98 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 1695 MHz. Ray tracing: 70 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 76 (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile) with 280 Tensor cores vs 304.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
G3D Mark Score	26,569	27,048+2%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	4 nm
Shading Units	8960	9728+9%
Compute (TFLOPS)	30.64 TFLOPS	32.98 TFLOPS+8%
Boost Clock	1710 MHz	1695 MHz
ROPs	96	112+17%
TMUs	280	304+9%
L1 Cache	8.8 MB	9.5 MB+8%
L2 Cache	6 MB	64 MB+967%
Ray Tracing Cores	70	76+9%
Tensor Cores	280	304+9%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 3.5)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile carries 16 GB. GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile gives you 33.3% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 576 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile) — a 58.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. Memory bus width is 384-bit on the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB and 256-bit on the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile. L2 Cache: 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 64 MB (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile) — the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
VRAM Capacity	12 GB	16 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	912 GB/s+58%	576 GB/s
Bus Width	384-bit+50%	256-bit
L2 Cache	6 MB	64 MB+967%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 1.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4+300%	1

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	8th Gen NVENC
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB draws 350W versus the GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile's 120W — a 97.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs Mobile. Card length: 285mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
TDP	350W	120W-66%
Recommended PSU	750W	650W-13%
Power Connector	2x 8-pin	Mobile
Length	285mm	0mm
Height	112mm	0mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	80°C	80°C
Perf/Watt	75.9	225.4+197%

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile (2023 vs 2022).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile
MSRP	$1250	—
Codename	GA102	AD103
Release	January 11 2022	January 3 2023
Ranking	#38	#30

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